Benefits cheat, 34, is spared jail despite scamming £54,618 in housing payouts and tax credits

A benefits cheat has been spared jail despite scamming £54,618 in housing payouts and tax credits by posing as a single mother while living with her partner.

Sarah Jane Brown claimed she had been living on her own in Warwickshire with her two children.

The 34-year-old had in fact been living with her partner David Evans who was employed in a full time role, but Brown failed to declare this to authorities.

Between 2013 and 2017 she pocketed a total of £54,618 in various benefits including working tax credits and housing benefit.

Brown admitted fraud and failing to notify the local authority at a hearing at Warwick Crown Court.

She was handed an eight-month sentence, suspended for two years and ordered to do 120 hours unpaid work and pay £85 costs.

Brown admitted fraud and failing to notify the local authority at a hearing at Warwick Crown Court (pictured above)

Sentencing her on Friday Judge Anthony Potter told Brown: ‘Some people consider such offences to be a victimless crime.

‘They are not, you are taking from others in society, and that is something you should reflect on.

Brown (pictured above) had been living with her partner as husband and wide since 2013 but failed to declare it to her local council 

‘I accept it was initially a genuine claim before you lapsed into dishonesty, but this was three different benefits over a long period of time.

‘I bear in mind your letter, and I am impressed by the fact that you acknowledge there are no excuses.

‘And you are someone who is working and have been doing overtime in order to try to pay back what you took.’

The court heard Brown started claiming benefits legitimately in 2010 when she was a single parent.

But when she moved in with her new partner Mr Evans in 2013 she continued to claim single parent status.

Prosecutor Lee Egan said: ‘In late 2017 a tip-off was made to the Department for Work and Pensions which led to an investigation into her claims.

‘It was discovered that from February 2013 she had been living as husband and wife with David Evans, who was in paid employment, without declaring it.

‘Over that three-and-a-half years Brown claimed a total of £54,618 in the various benefits to which she was not entitled.

‘That included £46,013 in working tax credits and £8,604 in housing benefit over the whole period.

‘She had also obtained £2,017 in council tax benefit in February and March 2013.’

The court heard Brown was now working overtime in a bid to repay the money.